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babi
Enthusiast
Silver Level
wanderingthehall
Rock Star
Silver Level
The hard part is deciding what "ruining" your life is. I'm from Las Vegas, and gambling problems to varying degrees is something I saw all the time. I can't say I know for sure of anyone has lost their house, job, or spouse from gambling, but I knew several people that were obsessed with it. They would blow all the money they had on gambling. Maybe win a big score and not get out of the casino with it.
As for me, I don't exercise as much self control as I would like in the non-poker aspects of gambling. I've never gambled away money I needed, but several times I've lost everything but what I've needed. I've also made a few credit card withdrawals of about 200-300 each. The last time I did that I actually hit a jackpot on a video poker machine for 5k, used the money to pay off the credit card, and haven't done it since!!
To control my gambling addiction I focus on online poker, building a bankroll from nothing, and exercising good BRM. Every few months I'll treat myself to some live poker, but try to keep it limited because I still have student loans and a car loan I want to get paid off.
As for me, I don't exercise as much self control as I would like in the non-poker aspects of gambling. I've never gambled away money I needed, but several times I've lost everything but what I've needed. I've also made a few credit card withdrawals of about 200-300 each. The last time I did that I actually hit a jackpot on a video poker machine for 5k, used the money to pay off the credit card, and haven't done it since!!
To control my gambling addiction I focus on online poker, building a bankroll from nothing, and exercising good BRM. Every few months I'll treat myself to some live poker, but try to keep it limited because I still have student loans and a car loan I want to get paid off.
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Swickster007
Rock Star
Silver Level
My grandfather was addicted to the ponies. It's hard to say if it ruined his life...because he really seemed to enjoy it. But we definitely think he owed a lot of money to the wrong sort of guys and that kept him from retiring. He worked until the day he died. Happily tho. To each his own.
crusinnn
Rock Star
Silver Level
If you have someone who supports your addiction you wouldn't have to loose everything, it's the love ones that keeps looking down on you that pushes you further away into depression and makes you gamble everything away. most of the ppl I know that lost their home and love ones because of gambling are depressed. I'm one of those person but I'm thankful for finding someone who understands me and help me through my addiction rather than jumping on me like a 2 legged frog. I never started out gambling with depression but it eventually lead to it because I'm a country away and I can still smell the hate coming from the ppl there so call family. Now I don't go to the casino often I just do something that both my wife and me loves , poker live and online.
If you're an addict and lost everything, I'm here to tell you I love you and you don't have to listen to the bastards for calling you bum , you still are a great individual and there's still hope to find happiness if you are not happy.
To OP: yes I know a lot of ppl which gambling affected their lives, I'm one of them
If you're an addict and lost everything, I'm here to tell you I love you and you don't have to listen to the bastards for calling you bum , you still are a great individual and there's still hope to find happiness if you are not happy.
To OP: yes I know a lot of ppl which gambling affected their lives, I'm one of them
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cotta777
Visionary
Silver Level
For me poker saved my life.
I was going through a really bad gambling period I spent over £12,000 2009-2010 this was by far my worst year.
poker took away my desire or need to bet on roulette and i realised the skill involved and potential I become a serious student I cringe when u think of putting down hundred maybe 200 in chips with ridiculously bad odds of profiting.
But for me a anyone who destroys there life in poker clearly is destined to fail or to stubborn to learn and improve themselves there for its their own fault for not being honest with themselves and working on weakness
I was going through a really bad gambling period I spent over £12,000 2009-2010 this was by far my worst year.
poker took away my desire or need to bet on roulette and i realised the skill involved and potential I become a serious student I cringe when u think of putting down hundred maybe 200 in chips with ridiculously bad odds of profiting.
But for me a anyone who destroys there life in poker clearly is destined to fail or to stubborn to learn and improve themselves there for its their own fault for not being honest with themselves and working on weakness
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StorkMerriam
Enthusiast
Silver Level
I could not say Gambling ruined my life . I do think it is an addiction and has an effect on things , I have lost well over $100,00.00 Gambling in my life , it was how I chose to spend my so called ,disposable income . Horses were the worst probably 80% of my losses were from betting on them. I spent money that could have been used better , but always paid my bills first . I own everything I have but still would have been better off if I never gambled. I find online poker best , as I play micro limits and can feed my habit for a few bucks a day . I have never had a winning year with any form of gambling . The largest one day cash from Horses at once was $3,500.00 and the largest Poker Cash was $ 480.00 and it is fun at the time to hit a good one , but I always managed to give it back and plenty more. I will say I am fairly tired of always being on the losing end and the good part of that is why I play less and deposit seldom anymore... I feel a little more in control , except when the money is already deposited I tend to respect it less then . Thats why I keep my deposits to around $40.00 at a time...It works best for me.....
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bikkeromano
Rising Star
Silver Level
Yes i knew one ,, my grandfather ,,uffffff he was a realy pokerplayer in Italy , but he always lose , i dont know why ,,,,,my grandmother always says to me ...dont play any games ........but i like to play only poker ......
KoRnholio
Visionary
Silver Level
There is an older family member of mine whose game of choice is roulette and it is borderline ruining his life. A couple years ago, that person's spouse asked me if getting them into poker would be a smart decision. I replied no. Despite being pretty intelligent, for this person I think it is more of an outlet to get rid of stress, some mindless gambling behaviour.
I couldn't condone trying to switch them to poker. They would have been playing in a casino, and I think it just would have made things worse with the temptation of roulette and other table games nearby always.
hugomito
Rising Star
Silver Level
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RogerZzz8979
Enthusiast
Silver Level
Like I stated before, I've seen people gone to rock bottom b/c of drug abuse, gambling etc. But I just don't see the connection with poker. Maybe I'm heavily in denial, but I don't see what makes poker more addictive than for instance a PlayStation-game. When I don't have any money I play freerolls.
Ok, I admit, I wait for a FreeRoll to start in the middle of the night because than the field is smaller so I have a better chance of making the cut and during the day I don't have time, but like now I got busted because I accidentally clicked call instead of fold with 63 off and got busted. I am really pissed at myself but I don't feel the need to spend money and give it another shot. I just tell myself I should shut down iTunes next time I fire up a game because apparently it's too distractive.
I really think poker is something else than regular gambling, because with a slot-machine, there is no skill involved. If it were the same as a pin-ball machine I could understand why people could get hooked to it, but now I really don't. I often go with a few of my friends to a casino and see them behind the roulette-table, and I'm the guy telling at them to cash out when they hit their number and keep the money with me until we're outside.
I used to spend money on pokerstars, but I stopped doing it in 2012 when I was literally broke (not because of gambling, but rent, college money, cigarettes, groceries all on a part-time minimum wage job) and wanted to play. I used to be a real retard with money, not being a gambler doesn't mean you spend your money wisely, not by far, but I learned it the hard way.
Since I managed to build a BankRoll out of FR's (read my thread), I want to do it again, also because I know it's possible. It still stings me that I had to transfer my winnings to my bank-account in order to ****ing eat. Off course I want to win the big tournaments, but at the same time I'm realistic and have to realize that I'm not the same as those 19 year old SuperNova Elite's like Dominic Panka, who hit the scene and rolled up two major tournaments without any effort. If I could do that, I would've probably done it by now. Honestly, I have a ticket for a tournament which could land me a Sunday Million-seat. My biggest challenge in the SM would be playing my regular game among those high profile players in a tournament with such a big buy-in...
I don't really know what my point is here, but it's just that I really don't get what makes good Poker-players getting all obsessive about the game and lose everything. I talked to a friend who is such a talented player and told him about the Freerolls and he says he's too scared too play because he know's it's getting him hooked. Even if it's just a Freeroll! Off course I respect his decision and as a friend I should support him, but it's hard because I really don't get it.
Ok, I admit, I wait for a FreeRoll to start in the middle of the night because than the field is smaller so I have a better chance of making the cut and during the day I don't have time, but like now I got busted because I accidentally clicked call instead of fold with 63 off and got busted. I am really pissed at myself but I don't feel the need to spend money and give it another shot. I just tell myself I should shut down iTunes next time I fire up a game because apparently it's too distractive.
I really think poker is something else than regular gambling, because with a slot-machine, there is no skill involved. If it were the same as a pin-ball machine I could understand why people could get hooked to it, but now I really don't. I often go with a few of my friends to a casino and see them behind the roulette-table, and I'm the guy telling at them to cash out when they hit their number and keep the money with me until we're outside.
I used to spend money on pokerstars, but I stopped doing it in 2012 when I was literally broke (not because of gambling, but rent, college money, cigarettes, groceries all on a part-time minimum wage job) and wanted to play. I used to be a real retard with money, not being a gambler doesn't mean you spend your money wisely, not by far, but I learned it the hard way.
Since I managed to build a BankRoll out of FR's (read my thread), I want to do it again, also because I know it's possible. It still stings me that I had to transfer my winnings to my bank-account in order to ****ing eat. Off course I want to win the big tournaments, but at the same time I'm realistic and have to realize that I'm not the same as those 19 year old SuperNova Elite's like Dominic Panka, who hit the scene and rolled up two major tournaments without any effort. If I could do that, I would've probably done it by now. Honestly, I have a ticket for a tournament which could land me a Sunday Million-seat. My biggest challenge in the SM would be playing my regular game among those high profile players in a tournament with such a big buy-in...
I don't really know what my point is here, but it's just that I really don't get what makes good Poker-players getting all obsessive about the game and lose everything. I talked to a friend who is such a talented player and told him about the Freerolls and he says he's too scared too play because he know's it's getting him hooked. Even if it's just a Freeroll! Off course I respect his decision and as a friend I should support him, but it's hard because I really don't get it.
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newbie in training
Legend
Silver Level
Imo ive known noone whos ruined their life by gambling everything away...althoigh my moms side of the familly has a good amout of drinkers. I dont play as often as I used to, but im happy because ive became a winning player and have only lost 100-200 playing poker but I should also put another 100-200 and now im up to 100 since the first day of 2014 and I started with zero 
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SpookMBluffwell
Enthusiast
Silver Level
I've been playing online poker for about 10 years now. I was a victim of Black Monday (or Friday or whatever day it was), but I eventually got my money out of Pokerstars. Lately I've been a victim of Lock Poker's demise. I am a little soured on online poker at the moment and have decided I will just satisfy my poker lust by frequenting these message boards, sharing my experiences and trying to learn from the many experts on here. I am also going to try to frequent live casinos whenever my travels allow, but that will be difficult as I am 5 hours from the nearest casinos (Maryland Live and Harrah's Cherokee). I prefer playing tournaments over cash games.I have not read a single book on how to play poker and have just learned what I have learned through trial and error. Hopefully one day PokerStars will return to the U.S. Market and I'll get back in.